Sep
14
Traffic School Teacher Answers Question on Motorcycle Driving and Lane Splitting in California
Filed Under Motorcycles | Comments Off
M. Pearl asked:
Q: I always see motorcycles weaving in and out of lanes in-between cars on the freeway. It seems to me that I’ve never seen anyone getting a citation for this, nor have I heard that they were sent to traffic school for this offense. Is this really legal?
A: This is called ’splitting the lanes’ and it is legal for motorcyclists in the state of California.
In addition, many older, air-cooled motorcycles find that lane-splitting is necessary in order to keep bikes moving in blistering climates to avoid overheating.
Also, motorcyclists justifiably point out that lane-splitting is a way for motorcycle riders to save time and it can be seen as a possible aid in reducing overall traffic congestion.
Regardless, the practice of lane-splitting only remains legal in one state - California.
The true dangers to motorcyclists are the complacent and distracted drivers on the road who do not look for motorcycles, and therefore do not tend to see them - until it is too late.
When discussing the possible perils of motorcycle riding in my traffic school class one day, I mentioned jokingly that I had heard motorcycles referred to on the television show E.R. as “donorcycles”.
At that point a rather burly-looking man spoke up.
“Hey! I’ve been riding a bike for 20 years and I don’t appreciate that comment!”
I immediately apologized to the man saying that I meant no offense to him or to motorcycle riders in general. I added that he was very fortunate that he had been riding so long and had never been injured.
He quickly responded, “Well, I didn’t say that.” He proceeded to touch his head, elbow and knee as he said, “I have a plate right here and a pin right here and I’ve had this replaced twice….”
Needless to say, that quickly ended the discussion on motorcycle riding in traffic school class for that day.
~
LAURENCE
Q: I always see motorcycles weaving in and out of lanes in-between cars on the freeway. It seems to me that I’ve never seen anyone getting a citation for this, nor have I heard that they were sent to traffic school for this offense. Is this really legal?
A: This is called ’splitting the lanes’ and it is legal for motorcyclists in the state of California.
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In addition, many older, air-cooled motorcycles find that lane-splitting is necessary in order to keep bikes moving in blistering climates to avoid overheating.
Also, motorcyclists justifiably point out that lane-splitting is a way for motorcycle riders to save time and it can be seen as a possible aid in reducing overall traffic congestion.
Regardless, the practice of lane-splitting only remains legal in one state - California.
The true dangers to motorcyclists are the complacent and distracted drivers on the road who do not look for motorcycles, and therefore do not tend to see them - until it is too late.
When discussing the possible perils of motorcycle riding in my traffic school class one day, I mentioned jokingly that I had heard motorcycles referred to on the television show E.R. as “donorcycles”.
At that point a rather burly-looking man spoke up.
“Hey! I’ve been riding a bike for 20 years and I don’t appreciate that comment!”
I immediately apologized to the man saying that I meant no offense to him or to motorcycle riders in general. I added that he was very fortunate that he had been riding so long and had never been injured.
He quickly responded, “Well, I didn’t say that.” He proceeded to touch his head, elbow and knee as he said, “I have a plate right here and a pin right here and I’ve had this replaced twice….”
Needless to say, that quickly ended the discussion on motorcycle riding in traffic school class for that day.
~
LAURENCE